Alarm as Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera is ‘arrested’
Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera was on Monday evening taken away from his home in a Dar es Salaam suburb by people who claimed they were police officers.
Mr Kabendera, a freelancer who writes for various local and international publications including The EastAfrican, was taken to Oysterbay Police Station in the city centre where he was still being questioned at the time of publishing this story.
A relative who preferred not to be named said Mr Kabendera was forcefully whisked away by at least six men in a Toyota Alphard sedan.
“The men did not show any identity cards, they also took both Erick and his wife’s mobile phones,” the relative said.
Mr Kabendera’s wife Loy who confirmed the incident, said her husband was arrested in broad daylight, in front of curious neighbours who were not allowed to take photos.
Contacted for comment, Dar es Salaam’s top police commander Lazaro Mambosasa told The Citizen he had not been notified of the arrest, but promised to make a follow-up.